What a day ! Sat watching scum getting beat 2-1 (Im
sure it wont last but you have to hope) after seeing
the best Leeds performance under Denis Wise.
Everything I say about today has to be balanced by the
fact that we were playing against easily the worse
team in the league but sod that we showed passion and
a load of team cohesion and spirit today and in
Kishishev we have a player that weve been desperately
lacking since we were relegated. Today, not only was
he our most creative player (actually hes probably
the most creative weve had so far in this division)
he was our best defender and our most combative
midfielder. Hes not the smallest bloke and is quite
bulky but he covers the ground and uses his great
footballing brain to get into the positions were he is
of most use. Unlike Douglas who is a headless chicken
he is always in the right place at the right time. He
has good control and seems to see a pass
instinctively. It is all simple stuff basics in fact
but when you see others around him miscontrolling and
failing to reach their team mates with 5 yard passes
you realise that this guy could be our saviour. From
the off today we were magnificent. Kishishev sat in
the middle and played the ball around effectively. He
did this against QPR but against QPR we didnt get in
behind them and didnt have the pace to trouble them.
Today was a different story. Admittedly QPR (apart
from the excellent Carlisle) were a poor defensive
unit but the pace of Johnson and Carole scared them
shitless. Johnson was a real live wire today and I
think he is exactly what we need. Ok, sometimes he
looks a little lightweight and hes only 3 ft 6 tall
but he runs around like a madman and draws defenders
all over the place. This gives lots more space for
Blake and Cresswell to work in. Blake started on the
left today but with Kishishev only a short pass away
we managed to play as a unit and link up well across
the park. Douglas contributed well in those early
stages and with him, Carole, Kishishev and Blake we
actually looked like an effective midfield unit. It
had me on my feet and believe me after being up most
of the night with a screaming baby that was some
achievement. We completely dominated the first half,
hit the bar 3 times (how did Douglas miss that header
?) and created a host of other chances. To go in at
0-0 was a travesty and you had to wonder if this was
fate and we were watching a team that was going down.
(oh shit pen to scum ! bstards). Second half and we
didnt start as effectively but with Kishishev
continue to steady the ship and drive us forward we
eventually got into our stride again. At the back we
looked a bit vulnerable especially against set pieces
where the wind seemed to disorientate our keeper. He
was all over the place on a number of crosses but Ill
give him the benefit of the doubt in the conditions. I
thought the difference between the first half and the
second were the following :
1) Douglas was terrible. His distribution is shocking,
he tries to play every pass with the outside of his
foot. Most are woefully short of their intended
target. He should have a look at his partner Kish
(thats what Ill call him from now). Douglas thinks
he can play football he cant , hes just a tryer
with a lot of effort and heart.
2) Cresswell came into the game. He had struggled a
bit in the first half but second half he really got
stuck in , started to lay off some balls and when the
chance came he took it brilliantly although I have to
ask what was their keeper doing. I would have saved
it. (did you know I used to be a Leeds City boys
keeper ?)
When the goal went in we went beserk in N.E.
Fantastic. The atmosphere today was brilliant and to
be honest if its as good as that for the rest of the
season they can let the part-timers in for nowt as far
as Im concerned. Say what you want about Wise but
there was passion there today that Blackwell rarely
got near and we also created chance after chance from
open play something that Blackie never achieved. Im
not saying this result the justification for Wise
(just to remind you Paul Im no Wise fan) but today I
felt there is a future with some of that team and in
Wise we do have a manager that can raise some passion
in players who arent really up to it.
Ok, now for the negative. After we scored we sat back
a bit. Luton began to play a bit and rather worryingly
they soon became the better team as we relied on our
pace to break away (It was good typing that cos I
havent written that since the days of Rod Wallace).
We began to shit ourselves and for me it was only a
matter of time before the equaliser came. In the end
Luton missed two great chances and a penalty. On
another day they could have walked away with 3 points
but fck it on another day we would have been 4 up at
half time. I enjoyed today and hats off to Wise and
his team.
Scores on the door :
Ankergen 7. Looked a bit dodgy on crosses but saved
us with a great (if not slightly lucky penalty save).
Richardson 5. Looked edgy to me and definitely looks
a bit slow and clumsy at times. Improved later on.
Lewis 7. Better today.
Heath 6. Much better. Still a useless lump but he
again played to his limited strengths today and won a
lot of challenges.
Slobadon (dont know his name !) 7. Much the same as
Heath really although I think hes got a bit more
about him and for a debut as a central defender he did
ok winning everything in the air and putting in a lot
of good challenges. I would worry about him and Heath
though against better teams. Not a lot of pace there
and not a lot of ability. What was wrong with Marquis
today ?
Kishishev 9. Fantastic. Pass and move simple
football at his best. Was even rubbing off on some of
the other players. Also, did you notice who was
putting in a lot of last ditch tackles in his own box
yep it was Kish. He really was good today.
Douglas 6. Thats been generous cos his second half
display was poor. He was really good and surprisingly
effective in the first 20 mins but he faded back into
his usual performance. I really dont rate him as a
footballer. As for his attempts on goal fcking hell
his shooting was unbelievably bad and how did he miss
that header from 5 yards. Please Denis watch the video
closely and dont rely on this guy for the future.
Blake 7. Usual Robbie Blake. Contributed to an
excellent first half performance and continued to
impress second half but as always he does frustrate
especially with those ridiculous short corners. Really
unlucky with a first half free kick which hit the bar
then came back off the keeper and still didnt go in.
Unlucky Leeds !
Cresswell 7. Poor first half but came into second
half and took his goal well. Missed a very similar if
not easier chance second half.
Johnson 8. Live wire. What we have been missing
PACE !!!
Carole 7. Should have scored second half after a
great turn in the box. I thought he was lacking on the
ball a few times today and he shows real naivety at
times but yet again he provides an option on the
right. He also has pace and runs into some good
positions. The value of this should not be
underestimated especially coupled with the excellent
Johnson.
Subs :
Healy, Moore not on long enough. It was funny to see
Wise instructing Carole to stand as far away as
possible before subbing him. Im surprised refs dont
get clever to this tactic now and add some time on.
Wise Cant argue today. Hes got a player in Kish
who is not too dissimilar to the way he played the
game. If he can keep him until the end of the season ,
you never know ???
Crowd best atmosphere of the season. The part-timers
have done us proud. Hopefully theyve seen enough
passion and excitement to bring them back next home
game. I do think we need them.
Were staying up !! A good evening to you all - get
pissed and enjoy it.
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